MAKERUA DRAINAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 122, 27 April 1925, Page 12

MAKERUA DRAINAGE

MEETING OF THE BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Makerua Drainage Roard was presided over by Trustee J. Higgins, Others present were Trustees 11. J. T. Hume, A. Seifert, ff. Akers and R. L. Tippler. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The chaM'inan of the works committee (Mr A.Seifert) in his report elated that the No. 1 dredge cracked a plate in the bottom of the boiler, due, it. was thought, to using very dirty wafer. 'lbis was a difficulty that could not he entirely overcome because to put teams on to cart water would he altogether too costly. The boiler had now been thoroughly repaired and tested and the machine was working in Seifert’s property and making very good progress. It still had to make over two miles of bank on flic loft hank of the Tokomam stream. During last month tho dredge built 24 chains of hank, and excavated 27.327 yards, an average of 97 yards ]>er hour for the time worked. Tho dipper dredge had ulso had a had run due to the main pillion on the backing drum having to be repaired, it hud excavated 118 chains, the total yardage being 28.844, an average of 88 yards per hour. Madden’s gang made remarkably good progress, erecting a large flood gate at Ihe mouth of the intersecting channel. The work was pushed through very rapidly and the weather was favourable. This job was now nearly finished. After this flood gate, only one other flood gate had to be erected in concrete. Campbell's contract would probably be finished in about three weeks’ time. Messrs Hume, Gilmour and the chairman visited Mr Loughnan’s property to consider the best way to protect this property from flood water, it was agreed that ihe dipper dredge should remake Mr Loughnan’s vegetation drain from the Tokomaru stream to the railway property; that from this point on the channels carrying hill water should lie widened and deepened and that n pumping plant- should be erected at tho mouth of the drain in order lo pump the water when the flood gates were closed by flood water. The engineers would bring down an estimate as early as possible on the cost. This course was recommended because it would he far 100 costly to erect hanks on both sides of the channels carrying hill water. -Messrs Jickeil and Gilmour. J. JL Hume and Anderson (engineer of the H orow henna County Council) and the chairman met at Okuku road bridge. After giwng full consideration to the matter the line of the road was agreed to, and the position of the flood bank. Before being able to decide eractlv how much ground would have to be purchased from Messrs Williams and Spiers', a survey must be completed. The report was adopted. GENERAL. It was resolved to notify owners of floodgates that they must, not open them without permission of the board’s overseer. The overseer (Mr \V. If. .Miles) reporled that concrete pipes had been placed in the various drains in Messrs Craw’s and Ilume’s properties, Tokomaru. Timber had boon removed from Ihe main drain in Mr Craw’s property, while, all Ihe board’s cleaning contracts were progressing fairly well. All tho Hood gates in use had had a. little attention and were now working well. Accounts amount ing to £3690 I7s Id were passed for payment.